Christopher Street Day - Governing mayor raises rainbow flag at city hall
Before the Red Town Hall, the Rainbow Flag waves. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) hoisted it together with the Berlin Queer Commissioner Alfonso Pantisano and the Berlin Business Manager of the Lesbian and Gay Association, Alexander Scheld. The reason is the beginning of the so-called Pride Season with its traditional peak, the Christopher Street Day (CSD), on July 27. The Berlin CSD is one of the largest events of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-, intersexual and queer community in Europe.
"The Rainbow Flag stands for the Rainbow Capital Berlin"
The hoisting of the Rainbow Flag has a good tradition in Berlin, said Wegner. It has become even more important in these days. "The Rainbow Flag stands for the Rainbow Capital Berlin, stands for Diversity, for Tolerance and for Respect", said the CDU politician.
Wegner referred to the increasing violence against the gay and lesbian community. "I think we need to do something about it together. "It's not okay that people are attacked just because they love differently", he said. "It's not about whom one loves, but about the fact that one loves. Because whoever loves, will not be inclined to violence- and hate outbreaks. That's why Berlin might also be the City of Love."
CSD Carrier Association continues to put pressure
As long as it's about politics, being colorful and diversity is always better than being brown and monotonous, said Wegner and emphasized that he is looking forward to Pride Month with great excitement. Last year, Wegner opened the CSD.
Whether he will be invited to do so again this year is still unclear. Representatives of the CSD Carrier Association spoke to Wegner shortly after the Flag was hoisted and handed him a poster with their core demands. At the top of the list is a Bundesrat initiative for the inclusion of queer people in Paragraph 3 of the Basic Law for Equality.
Wegner had promised this at the CSD last year but had not yet delivered. The CSD Carrier Association then went public and criticized Wegner sharply.
"We would be very happy to find a common meeting date in the next two weeks", it was said to the CDU politician. Wegner did not answer immediately, but assured: "I will tell my office that - and then we'll see."
The hoisting of the Rainbow Flag is a symbol of Berlin's commitment to diversity and inclusion, a commitment shared by Mayor Kai Wegner of the CDU party. This year's Christopher Street Day (CSD), one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ events, will further highlight Berlin's status as a Rainbow Capital.
Kai Wegner, in his speech, emphasized the importance of the Rainbow Flag, stating that it stands for diversity, tolerance, and respect, touching upon the increasing instances of violence against the LGBTQ+ community. He expressed his hope for a city that loves without violence or hate outbreaks.
The CSD Carrier Association, representing the LGBTQ+ community, has continued to press for their demands, including a Bundesrat initiative for the inclusion of queer people in Paragraph 3 of the German Basic Law for Equality. Wegner, who had made this promise at last year's CSD, is yet to deliver and has been criticized publicly by the association.
Negotiations for a common meeting to discuss these matters are currently being arranged between Wegner and the CSD Carrier Association, with the goal of finding a mutually agreeable solution.
